We Doubled Our Living Space!

Yes you read that right! We have doubled our living space by building a 12x20 covered/fenced patio. This project has been in the works for quite sometime and we still need to do a few minor things like adding 2x4 bracing off the posts but I figured it was time to get it up on the blog for everyone to see! There have been some major changes on the homestead over the last four months but this has been the biggest and the most exciting! If you'd like to give it a try here is how we did it:

Material List:

15-20 bags cement (we used a quick set type)

4: 4x4x12 (posts)

4: 4x4x10 (posts) one which we cut for wood lattice support

20: 2x4x12 roofing support

4: 2x6x12 for bracing the posts together

40 brackets for the the 2x4x12

10 plastic corrugated roofing sheets (see below why we went this route)

If you want to fence or "deck" it in there are many options we choose a slightly more expensive route with the wooden lattice but I plan to grow berries galore on it this summer! 

8 wood lattices (ours came 8 feet long)

20 1x2x8 to frame the lattice in 

Screws for the roofing

3in wood screws

1.5in wood screws

lag bolts for attaching posts to 2x6x12

Finishing nails

Helpful Things To Have

Post level

Regular level

Shovel and wheel barrel

Impact drill or high powered drill

Hammer

Saw of some kind

Here is the progress via pictures with descriptions:

Supplies! 

Jack helps dig 2 ft holes

First posts are set

Added 4 more feet to width so more posts were added and Casey is installing the 2x6x12 boards to brace the posts together

Casey adding the brackets for the 2x4x12 boards (20 on each side)

Brackets up for one side

Brackets up for second side plus the start of 2x4x12 going in!
View never gets old! 

Another supply run

All brackets and 2x4x12ft boards in place

Side view

Next up the wooden lattice to contain the dogs and Jack so roofing would be easier!

Plastic corrugated roofing being installed
We choose this so we could get some shade but still have sun and also to collect snow run off and rain water

Roofing up! (more on the lights later)

FINISHED PRODUCT
Casey had set up my hammock a week or two prior!

Jacks play area (that now has pallets under it)

The hardest worker you've ever seen....


So thats how we doubled our living space and so far it has been much enjoyed and appreciated I'm currently typing while the dogs bask in the sun and Jack plays with his toys!

A huge thank you to the great people at Home Depot that saw my vision off a scribbled drawing on the back of an envelope, our great neighbors Bill and William and lastly my wonderful husband who dealt with my endless requests and changes!

Please comment with any questions you may have about the process.

The Thompsons-